26 Congress lawmakers suspended in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, July 9 (IANS) Twentysix opposition Congress lawmakers demanding the release of a jailed religious leader were suspended for a brief period from the Chhattisgarh assembly Wednesday. The Congress legislators were seeking the release of satnami community religious leader Baldas, who was arrested in April on charges of inciting a mob to grab a piece of land.

They trooped towards the speaker following which they were suspended. But their suspension was revoked after about 10 minutes.

Of the 34 Congress legislators, only 26 were present in the house Wednesday.

On Monday too, Congress legislators had created uproar in the assembly over the issue.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has 52 members in the 90-member assembly. The Bahujan Samaj Party and the Nationalist Congress Party have one member each. Two seats are vacant.